Bond for Civic Center approved
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

The Thomasville City Council approved Monday an ordinance for the $4 million bond issue to fund the remodeling of the old high school next to City Hall as a Civic Center. The fixed interest rate is 4.45 percent over 30 years.

Council member Charles Allen was not present for Monday's council meeting, but City Attorney Edmon McKinley read a statement from Allen expressing his opposition to the bond issue. Allen wanted to "remind the council that he was not in favor of this bond issue from the beginning.

"He is continuing to be opposed to the bond issue, and if he was present tonight, he would vote against the bond issue because of issues that he feels like have not been adequately addressed.

"He (Allen) will make his own remarks in person at our next council meeting," McKinley said.

The bond received a Triple A Rating, said Reid Cavnar of Merchants Capital. "That's the best rating you can have in the marketplace," he said.

In other action from Monday's council meeting, the council approved an extension of the contract with AlaTax of Birmingham, the company that collects sales taxes for the city.

• The polling places were announced for the Aug. 14 vote on the city wet/dry referendum. Polling sites include the National Guard Armory, City Hall and the Bashi Fire Station.

• In a dispute between property owners over a city-owned alley behind Kelley's Tires, the council voted that Preston and Judy Webb could not build a fence in the alley right-of-way. Property owner Buddy Crow had been previously allowed to grow trees in the easement.

• Bids will go out for renovation projects for the Boys and Girls Club and Fire Station No. 2. Deadline for bids is July 19.

• A sale of city surplus will be held at 10 a.m. on July 17 in the city council chambers. The sale will be open bid.

• Mayor Day will write a letter to federal officials in support of RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program). Some U.S. Senators are considering reducing funding to the program, he said. "We have a responsive RSVP program here in the sixcounty area, and we strongly encourage everyone to call (representatives in Washington, D.C.)."

Day said he would address the issue with representatives personally when he traveled to the Capital this week for the meetings on Highway 84 and the El Camino Corridor.

• The council approved that the pay of city employee Walker Wilson, who has earned his Commercial Driver's License, be upgraded to Step One, Grade 7, Truck Driver.

• Mayor Day paid tribute to the late Robert Clarke, a member of the Thomasville and the county Industrial Development Boards. "He was one of our most dedicated members," the mayor said. Clarke was also an avid supporter of local sports. "He will be sorely missed."

• Mayor Day would like to hold an "off-site" council meeting, possibly the first meeting in August, at the Johnson Shopping Center. The meeting would be a kickoff for the Community Revitalization Committee, he said.

"A lot of folks, for whatever reason, don't come to council meetings," the mayor said. "This would put it right at their doorstep."

• Council member Alberta Dixon expressed concern about the speeding on Highway 154 near the four-way stop with Tallahatta Springs Road in the city limits. She asked if the speed limit could be reduced from 55 m.p.h.

Because it is a state highway, Mayor Day said he would write the Alabama Department of Transportation. "The state highway department will have to do an assessment," the mayor said. "Unfortunately, (ALDOT) goes by statistics, and a lot of time, they will not lower the speed limit unless there has been a lot of accidents or fatalities."

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